Fifa change transfer window rules

FIFA sounding like there doing something right or then again???

What is the point of this rule? They make it sound as though the option on the number of clubs is with the player whereas the truth is that no club will sign a player who has been with 2 or 3 (whatever the number) clubs.

So much for freedom of movement in employment unless of course the player is out of contract, or is that covered. And under "normal" circumstances you are not allowed to buy a player from another club and then send him out on loan to say, your "junior" club?

As for the second part, when does the transfer window open and more particularly close for season 2020-21 and how does that apply for those nations that have voided season 2019-20?

I dare say it all makes some sort of sense but it does appear to be a regulation for regulation's sake.

Alan - the way I read it is that the new season starts in July, when most contracts expire. Therefore, if a player was out of contract in July, but signed a 1 month extension to finish the delayed season before moving to another club, he then couldn't go out on loan from this new club as he would have already played for 2 clubs in the one season.

This way, he could go out on loan from his new club. This would benefit bigger clubs signing younger players from the Championship for example.

Sounds like "Can we have some more pointless stupid rules please?"

Maybe they can go on to help the government write some more fatuous lockdown rubbish.

Nicely put, Charles.

Kevin,

Thanks for adding that clarity. It makes sense now.

Kevin (#3); Thanks but it still strikes me as, never mind the progress – look at the movement, so to speak.

Player A might have played for Club 1 in August. He then didn't get enough games and went to Club 2 on loan in January. His contract is up before July. If he signed for club 3, then under the current rules he would not be allowed to play for club 3 as you can only represent 2 different clubs in one season.

You may think, what about the lads from the academy, those lads don't actually play for us, so we don't count and they can play for two different clubs on loan.

FIFA are fixing this, temporarily, so that no one is temporarily unemployed if a club does want to sign them but the current rules prevent it.

Once again, Fifa, a trusted organisation who 'help run' one of the world's largest and most popular sports and businesses, have given a half-arsed answer to an important question with no real plan, time-lines, dates or useful information.

There doesn't appear to be any pre-agreed notice or planned intention of this with more local continental or country FAs who will actually have to govern this.

If you don't know something, then say so and get to work on a planned response. Instead, it's another "shout first and think later" reaction.

Q) What do Fifa have in common with porcupines and hedgehogs?

Confused?

I am...

Is there nothing new to talk about? Do we have any friendlies?